Pedestrian safety reminders from WSP

OLYMPIA – With October being National Pedestrian Safety Month, the Washington State Patrol is reminding people that pedestrian safety is a responsibility of all, including drivers and those walking. In Washington there were 733 fatal pedestrian collisions in 2022, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, resulting in 1.62 fatalities per 100,000 people in Washington.  

The NHTSA released a traffic safety facts sheet with 2022 data showing that on average a pedestrian was killed nationwide every 70 minutes which is almost 7,500 pedestrians. A pedestrian is injured every eight minutes, the report said, which is around 67,300 pedestrians.  

Drivers should be mindful of pedestrians at all times, looking for them even when they are not expected, according to safety tips released by the WSP. Only 16% of pedestrian fatalities occurred in intersections; the other 75% occurred outside of intersections, according to NHTSA.  

Use caution when driving in low visibility such as nighttime or stormy weather, according to WSP. More pedestrian fatalities occur in the dark at 78% than the daylight at 19% according to NHTSA.  

Slow down and be prepared to stop when entering a crosswalk. Yield to pedestrians in crosswalks and stop before the crosswalk.  

Do not drive or walk under the influence of alcohol or drugs, according to WSP. Of the crashes listed above 48% of the fatal crashes involved alcohol use by either the driver or the pedestrian, according to NHTSA.   

The WSP says to follow the speed limit, especially in school zones or where children are present. Although the pedestrian fatalities for age groups less than five and five to nine were lower than most age groups, according to NHTSA, there were still more than 110 fatalities of these two age groups.  

Drivers should be cautious when they are backing up and ensure that no pedestrians are located behind their vehicle. 

Finally, WSP says to embrace walking as a healthy form of transportation but to be mindful of others on the road.  

“Get up, get out and get moving,” reads the WSP release.